More Than Macros

Michael W.
Oct 19
3 min read

What the Bible Actually Says About a Proper Diet

Have you ever wondered if the Bible contains a secret diet plan? Does it prefer paleo, plant-based, or something else entirely?

The truth is, the Bible doesn’t give us a single, static nutrition guide. Instead, it offers a dynamic, 3-part theology of nourishment that evolves throughout history. It shifts the focus from what you can eat to why and how you eat, making diet a matter of spiritual stewardship, not just physical health.

Here’s a look at the three major biblical phases of food and diet.

1. The Original Menu: Stewardship in Eden

When God first created humanity, the initial instruction for sustenance was wonderfully simple—and purely vegetarian. It established a model of total reliance on and stewardship of the earth's bounty.

In Genesis 1:29, God said: “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”

This first diet was about harmony and life. The only dietary restriction was the command not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, instantly establishing the rule that obedience is more vital than consumption.

After the Flood, this mandate expanded (Genesis 9:3) to include meat. This new freedom was a sign of a renewed covenant, but it didn't last long before more detailed laws were introduced.

2. The Law of Holiness: Clean and Unclean

For the people of Israel under the Mosaic Covenant, diet became a tool for national identity and holiness. The famous dietary laws in Leviticus were not primarily a health code; they were a holiness code—a physical barrier separating Israel from the surrounding nations.

The distinction between "clean" and "unclean" animals was detailed, as summarized in Leviticus 11:4: “You must not eat meat from animals that only chew the cud or only have divided hooves.” This meant things like pigs, shellfish, and certain birds were forbidden.

Eating "clean" food was a daily, practical reminder that they were a consecrated people, set apart for God's purposes. The law’s purpose was to create a perpetual state of symbolic purity.

3. The New Covenant: Freedom, Stewardship, and Glory

With the coming of Jesus, the ritual purity laws that defined Old Testament diet were set aside. This monumental shift is dramatically illustrated when the Apostle Peter has a vision in Acts 10. A sheet descends filled with every kind of "unclean" animal, and a voice tells him to eat. When Peter objects, the voice replies: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15).

The New Covenant grants tremendous freedom, but this freedom is immediately governed by two higher principles:

A. The Body as a Temple

Paul makes it clear that our bodies are no longer just physical vessels, but spiritual ones. We are to care for them because of what they hold.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

A "proper diet" here means acting with stewardship—avoiding things like gluttony and excessive indulgence that harm the temple and limit our ability to serve God.

B. Glorifying God in Everything

Ultimately, the biblical perspective on food culminates in a single, overarching ethical mandate: our diet, choices, and attitude toward food should always point toward worship.

The Apostle Paul challenges us: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

This means a meal eaten with thankfulness and moderation is more "biblical" than a technically "clean" meal eaten with a proud or judgmental spirit. Diet becomes a matter of conscience, thankfulness (1 Timothy 4:4-5), and love for others.

The Takeaway

When approaching your plate from a biblical standpoint, don't worry about following ancient laws that were fulfilled in Christ. Instead, focus on these eternal principles:

Stewardship: Treat your body as God's property, using food for health and vitality.
Moderation: Practice self-control and avoid gluttony.
Thankfulness: Receive all food with gratitude.
Glory: Ensure your eating habits do not violate your conscience or cause a brother or sister to stumble (Romans 14).